The Bavarian brand would unveil at the Shanghai Salon the face wash of one of its most popular saloons, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. And so it was, just a few minutes ago we finally met the appearance and all the details of the luxury saloon that is now modernized to follow the latest design lines of the rest of the German range, as well as incorporating new systems that bring it closer to autonomous driving and new mechanics.

Among the most outstanding features of this new S-Class is the ‘Intelligent Drive’ system, which aims to take a further step towards autonomous driving and a new generation of Mercedes-Benz engines. One of the leaders in this segment of premium sedans that now adds a plus of comfort and comfort in its interior, with a new generation of double screens of 12.3 inches of high resolution, new finishing options or a wide catalog of upholsteries to to choose.

Mercedes-Benz S Class 2018

The systems known as “Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC” and “Active Steering Assist” make the German saloon a totally intelligent vehicle capable of reacting to multiple situations so that its driver has to intervene less and less. Now the S-Class incorporates a series of improvements to maintain distance from the rest of vehicles offering a comfortable and safe driving at all times. The speed will be adjusted automatically according to the route or the maneuvers that we have to carry out at each moment of our displacement.

Another new system that incorporates the Bavarian saloon is the Intelligent Light System LED, which considerably improves the lighting thanks to the Ultra Wide Beam and the Road Surface Scan to detect any obstacle or prevent accidents prematurely. Optionally we can also add systems such as the ENERGIZING Comfort, which links different comfort systems in the vehicle such as climate control, ambient lighting, massage functions or fragrances, allowing each passenger to adjust a series of parameters to suit their needs. mood at every moment of the day.

Mercedes-Benz-Clase-S-2018 back

Mercedes-Benz S Class 2018-48

“The development of the new S-Class was extremely comprehensive, with a whole host of new features and functions, the S-Class is still a technological pioneer,” says Ola Källenius, member of the Board of Directors responsible for the Research Group.

All new models incorporate the highest quality finishes and materials in their interiors, with an infinite catalog of extras, colors and upholstery that presents each customer with the possibility of personalizing their S-Class up to limits never before imagined. On the outside we come across a new grille on the front, while at the Mercedes-Maybach we will also find new updates such as a large number of chrome finishes to give it its exceptional status compared to the rest of the range.

In combination with the new intelligent LED light system, the new S-Class also has three different accents of light as an exclusive design element. Also, we also find a redesigned front bumper that now receives a sportier look thanks to its pronounced air intakes. In the rear, the new LED taillights recall with their shapes a jewel, guaranteeing a characteristic design both day and night. Also in the rear, the rear bumper has been redesigned with a small cutout of the exhaust that remains visible.

Mercedes-Benz S Class 2018

Within the extensive catalog of extras now add two new sets of 20-inch wheels to delight the new S-Class, which adds luxury, exclusivity and sportsmanship in equal parts.
Inside we have as main novelty the new 12.3-inch high resolution screens that offer us the best in quality infotainment. In the front of the vehicle we found few changes, the instrument panel with virtual elements that incorporated the previous Class S and a huge screen above the center console. Now in the steering wheel we find a series of tactile control buttons that respond to movements such as slides as if it were an authentic smartphone. With this fully digital display we can choose between three different modes: Classic, Sport and Progressive.

Mercedes-Benz-Class-S-2018 interior

The materials and colors in the interior have also been carefully taken care of and chosen from a wide range of tones and finishes, in general we can say that the highest qualities make up the interior of this spectacular saloon. Now Mercedes-Benz includes up to a total of three new color combinations in its upholstery: Silk Beige-Deep-Sea Blue, Magma Gray-Espresso Brown and Mahogan-Silk Beige

Mercedes-Benz S Class 2018

The new Energizing Comfort system allows us to choose up to six different programs combining different vehicle systems to suit our mood. We can choose between: freshness, warmth, vitality, joy, comfort or training (muscle relaxation, muscle activation and balance).
In addition, its lighting environments now amount to 64 different combinations, which allows us to fully customize the atmosphere while traveling with the greatest luxury and comfort within our reach. We could not miss a sound system at the level of the new S-Class, nothing less than a Burmester® High-End with 3D surround sound to delight us with the best music without a bit of distortion.

Barcelona is the fourth city in Europe where more is invested in start-ups

Barcelona tech city Pier01

The European technological ecosystem will close 2017 with a record of 19,000 million dollars (some 16,000 million euros) invested in start-ups (in 3,449 operations), 32.5% above the 14,400 million of the previous year (in 3,720 transactions). In 2012, the investment was 4,100 million in 1,276 operations. This data has been collected by the Atomicoinvestment fund in its third annual report on the technological panorama in Europe, and whose conclusion is that the ecosystem is “stronger than ever”. The figure, however, is still far from the US, where in 2016 emerging companies of this type raised 71,000 million dollars in 8,500 operations.

The United Kingdom is the main recipient of these investments (5,400 million), followed by Germany, France, Sweden, and Spain (800 million, including the sale of Social Point and the Cabify round). And for cities, in 2017, Barcelona is the fourth city in whose start-ups more has been invested (722 million dollars), behind London (5,080), Berlin and Paris; the positions are the same according to the number of operations.

“Europe is building its own system, defined by a deep technological knowledge, an incredible geographical diversity and a unique collaborative approach with traditional industry,” Tom Wehmeier, partner and head of research at Atomico, explains in the presentation of the report. The fund was created in 2006 in London and specializes in disruptive projects, mostly in Europe but also in America and Asia (among its investments are Hailo, Jobandtalent, Ontruck, Skype, Viagogo, Jawbone, Gympass). In this last sectorial report, Atomico considers that the European ecosystem is based on a broad and solid talent pool, with global ambitions and a growing investor base; that is why Wehmeier ensures that doubts can be ruled out if Europe can produce world-class innovation or billion-dollar companies (so-called unicorns, of which there are 41 in Europe, such as Spotify, Zalando, Supercell, Skype or Blablacar). In his opinion, “the probability that the next company that causes a new disruptive business model to be European and becomes one of the most valuable companies in the world has never been so high”.

The report has been prepared based on 3,500 responses obtained in September and October and 50 qualitative interviews with leading actors in the ecosystem, “not only in traditional hubs such as London and Berlin, but also in Seville, Sofia or Reykjavik.”

The investment record is not the only indicator of the sweet moment of the sector. The European technology industry is creating employment at a rate of 2.6%, well above (more than triple) the 0.8% annual growth of employment expected this year in the EU.

In this scenario, however, Atomico has also detected some black point: in the start-ups supported by risk capital, only 9% of the management positions are occupied by women (6% of female delegates, 2% of directors of technology, 23% of marketing directors). The same problem is experienced by the venture capital industry, where women only occupy 13% of executive positions. Interestingly, Atomico has found that an absolute majority of respondents believe that gender diversity is well reflected in their company. 95% of the founders of companies in Europe are men.

“The key question is to know how strong is the creation of technological talent in Europe,” asks Atomico. Remember that Europe is home to half of the ten best science institutions in the world, and that in Europe graduated twice as many doctors in science, technology engineering and mathematics (STEM), a total of 58,941, than in the United States ( 28.328). This technical strength is accompanied by a business approach: according to the study, one in five MBAs will work in the technology industry.

The growing competition of the industry in Europe has an effect on the salaries of software engineers (see table below), which is, by far, the specialty where it is more difficult to attract talent. Europe has 5.5 million software developers, compared to 4.4 in the United States. By countries, Germany has surpassed the United Kingdom (813,000) and leads the ranking with 837,000. Further away are France, Russia, Holland, Italy, and Spain is seventh with 268,000. For cities, London is the largest hub for software developers, followed by Paris, Moscow, Madridand Berlin; Barcelona is the 14th square. On the other hand, Barcelona is the third city preferred by entrepreneurs to create a new start-up, only behind London and Berlin.

A differential feature of the European technology sector is its ability to organize events: just over 8,000 events were held in 2012, and almost 63,000 in 2017 (that is, 172 events every day throughout Europe). The United Kingdom is the most active country (195,000 active members of the events), and Spain is the fourth country (70,151 usual attendees).

Atomico has found that 90% of the founders of European start-ups are optimistic about the future of the ecosystem (the British, for the Brexit, are the least convinced).

The relationship with traditional industries
From the point of view of capital, Europe attracted 2,000 different investors in 2017 (four times more than in 2012), of which 580 were corporate investors: “In Europe the idea is supported that start-ups Technology needs stronger links with traditional industry, “says the Atomico investment fund in its latest report. For traditional industries, supporting start-ups is still a way of defending their market positions. In addition, more than 200 American investors are already operating in Europe, and Asians have invested 1,800 million dollars in Europe in more than 100 operations. However, in Europe the role of public financing in the early stages of companies is still significant. Regarding sectors, artificial intelligence and blockchain
These are the areas in which Europe considers itself to be the best positioned worldwide.

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The skeleton, which was discovered in 2013 in the USA. and it is one of the best preserved in the world, will be exhibited until February 18

Trix Barcelona Caixaforum

Trix was a giant Tyrannosaurus rex that survived clashes with other dinosaurs, bone fractures and devastating infections. Before dying, 67 million years ago, he surpassed the unusual age of 30 years. The stakes that he suffered throughout his life were engraved on his bones, extracted in 2014 years in Montana (United States) by a team of paleontologists from the Naturalis Biodiversity Center, the natural science museum in Leiden (Holland).

Today the Barcelona science museum CosmoCaixa has inaugurated an exhibition centered around the skeleton of Trix, which conserves 80% of the original bones. It is the third most complete skeleton of T. rex found to date, one of the best preserved and the oldest. He is currently on a tour of…

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The skeleton, which was discovered in 2013 in the USA. and it is one of the best preserved in the world, will be exhibited until February 18

Trix Barcelona Caixaforum

Trix was a giant Tyrannosaurus rex that survived clashes with other dinosaurs, bone fractures and devastating infections. Before dying, 67 million years ago, he surpassed the unusual age of 30 years. The stakes that he suffered throughout his life were engraved on his bones, extracted in 2014 years in Montana (United States) by a team of paleontologists from the Naturalis Biodiversity Center, the natural science museum in Leiden (Holland).

Today the Barcelona science museum CosmoCaixa has inaugurated an exhibition centered around the skeleton of Trix, which conserves 80% of the original bones. It is the third most complete skeleton of T. rex found to date, one of the best preserved and the oldest. He is currently on a tour of Europe, and the museum of the Obra Social ‘La Caixa’ will be the only Spanish center that exposes it.

When the team of paleontologists arrived at the Hell Creek Formation, one of the most studied geological formations, “a pair of tyrannosaur teeth poked up the side of a hill. And on the other side the hip appeared, “recalls Anne Schulp, current leader of the expedition that took Trix. “And we ask ourselves: will there be an entire tyrannosaur buried in this hill?”, Declared the paleontologist in the presentation of Trix to the media, in CosmoCaixa.

The fifteen members of the expedition took only thirty days to discover it. “It was an incredibly pleasant dig. The hill was made of sand without fossilizing, we only had to remove it with brushes “. And so the Trix bones emerged, one by one, extraordinarily well preserved under the sand, without any deformation. “The tail was the most exciting part,” says Schulp. “We were finding all the vertebrae in order. No one had ever found a tail of T. rex whole … In the end, it turned out that the tip was missing. The tail is still the last mystery of the skeleton of this dinosaur. ”

It also lacked the four legs, and part of the jaw. In the end, the right rear leg ended up appearing on a nearby hill. “We excavated all the surrounding hills, but we did not find anything else,” explains Anne Schulp, who talks about the twelve-meter-long dinosaur as if it were a daughter.

The long and eventful life of Trix

The paleontologist reads in his bones the long history of Trix, the oldest T. rex found until today. “If you look closely at the lower jaw, you see holes in the bone. Interestingly, they line up perfectly with the teeth of a T. rex. ” That means that Trix received a bite in the head of another member of the same species, and survived.

The skeleton also presents fractures healed in four ribs and in the right hind paw, as well as signs of an infection in the anterior part of the snout. “That hole looks really bad,” says Schulp. “It was a very serious infection, which came to erode the bone.” And, again, Trix survived. The only wounds that did not heal were scratches on the top of the nose. “He probably received them a few weeks before he died.” Anne Schulp explains that it is “tempting” to speculate that they had something to do with her death, but recognizes that there is no evidence.

The paleontologist admits that they can not be sure of the sex of Trix, since the reproductive organs do not leave fossils, but the robustness of their bones made them think that it was female. Its name comes from the old queen Beatrix of Holland, who reigned until 2013.

When Schulp and his team found Trix four years ago, there was already a lot of information available about the tyrannosaurs. However, the unusual conditions of preservation of the skeleton have offered new opportunities for paleontologists. Schulp is currently conducting a study on Trix tooth enamel that will allow him to learn more about the diet and the environment in which he lived. Other scientists are studying the lines of bone growth to find out how these dinosaurs grew and developed. Trix’s rib cage and tail, very well preserved, have given new clues about how he breathed and walked.

Visitors to CosmoCaixawill be able to face Trix’s original skeleton face to face, reconstructed to show what it would look like if it were complete, and exposed in a way that allows the visitor to “connect emotionally” with this huge dinosaur, according to Schulp. The exhibition will remain in the museum until next February 18.

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The World Free Zones Organization confirms that the city will host its office in southern Europe and will host the fifth international trade congress

The World Free Zones Organization confirms that the city will host its office in southern Europe and will host the fifth international trade congress

Barcelona gains prominence in international trade. The World Free Zones Organization (WFZO), which brings together 350 free zones from 78 countries, has confirmed today that the city will host its new regional headquarters for the Mediterranean countries.

Likewise, the Board of Directors of the WFZO has agreed that Barcelona will be the host city for the fifth edition of the World Free Zones Congress, which will be held in June 2019. The Barcelona Free Trade Zone Consortium (CZFB) will be the entity in charge of organizing an event that will attract about a thousand international trade representatives to the Catalan capital.
The city will host the fifth world congress of free zones in 2019
The special delegate of the State in the Zona Franca Consortium, Jordi Cornet, highlighted the importance of maintaining the leading role of Barcelona in the economic world “as an open, inclusive and cosmopolitan city”.

“The experience of the CZFB in the organization of international fairs and congresses, the prestige of Spain as a global logistic platform and the attractiveness of Barcelona as the capital of the Mediterranean have been decisive factors in hosting the congress,” Cornet explained.

In addition, the delegate of the State for the CZFB thanked the Vice President of the Spanish Government, Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría “his support for Barcelona to host this congress, which is excellent news for Spain, for Catalonia and for the city ” “This is demonstrated,” Cornet added, “that the unity of action and the sum of efforts allow us to meet the challenges posed by the globalized world.”

For his part, the president of the WZFO, Mohammed Al Zarooni, who has been meeting in Barcelona on Monday to approve the budget of the entity for 2018, has congratulated himself for “the continued growth of the WFZO and its usefulness as a platform international innovation and sustainability “, while asserting that the leading organization” shows the key role of free trade zones in world trade and their contribution to socio-economic development “.